Beijing Hospital Gets $2.3M in Days to Help Cleft Kids
When a Beijing hospital treating children with cleft lips faced closure over $4 million in unpaid rent, more than 300,000 people donated $2.3 million in just five days. The wave of support came after founder Li Yapeng shared an emotional video about the hospital's struggles.
A Beijing hospital that has performed 16,000 free surgeries on children with cleft lips just received a lifeline from an unlikely source: everyday people across China.
The Beijing Smile Angel Children's Hospital faced possible shutdown in January after falling $4 million behind on rent. Founder Li Yapeng, a former actor, posted a video titled "I have to face it at last" explaining that while the hospital needed to close, they would first complete surgeries for every child already admitted.
"My ability does not match my philanthropic passion," Li admitted in the emotional clip that earned 1.5 million likes.
What happened next stunned everyone. Within five days, over 300,000 people donated approximately $2.3 million to keep the hospital running.
Li founded the hospital in 2012 with seven others, including his then-wife, Hong Kong singer Faye Wong. Their daughter was born with a cleft lip in 2006, and after taking her to the U.S. for surgery, they launched the charity fund to help other families afford treatment.
The hospital became one of the few charitable institutions in China focusing on cleft lip and palate surgery. Most patients come from poor families in northwestern and southwestern regions who couldn't otherwise afford the procedures.
Li's business ventures in real estate and tourism failed over the years, leaving him with $6 million in personal debt. He admitted living frugally and facing ridicule online for his business decisions.
But hundreds of grateful families defended him publicly. "The Beijing Smile Angel Children's Hospital gave my kid a second life," one parent wrote. Many shared before-and-after photos of their children, something Li said requires tremendous courage.
The Ripple Effect
The response shows how transparency about struggles can inspire collective action. Li's honesty about failure resonated more powerfully than any polished fundraising campaign could have.
His social media following jumped from six million to seven million as supporters rallied around the cause. One commenter captured the sentiment perfectly: "Perhaps he does not have business prowess, but he is a top swordsman with great love."
The donated funds won't solve every problem, but they've bought precious time for a hospital that transforms lives one smile at a time.
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Based on reporting by South China Morning Post
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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